Union Government has launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan to create awareness on the benefits of water conservation and declining sources of water in the country. Launching the initiative in New Delhi this evening, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, water conservation is now a national priority and it is time to make water conservation a people’s movement. He requested the people to associate themselves with Jal Shakti Abhiyan.

Mr Shekhawat said, everyone should made efforts to save the country from the threat of water scarcity. The Minister said, per capita water availability has dropped a lot in India and India is also one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. He said, there is a need to conserve more water as at present only 8 per cent of rainwater is being conserved.

The Jal Shakti Abhiyan has been launched in two phases. The first phase is 1st July to 15th September and is for all participating States and the second phase will be between 1st October to 30th November for States with retreating monsoon. Under Jal Shakti Abhiyan, focus will be on 256 water stressed districts and 1,592 water stressed blocks.

There are five key intervention areas under the movement including water conservation and rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies, reuse, borewell recharge structures, watershed development and intensive afforestation. The movement is a time-bound mission mode water conservation campaign.